Kinew Calls to Abolish Indian Act

Manitoba's premier says the 1876 law is obsolete and inherently racist, as Ottawa weighs moving beyond it.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Native American

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Should Canada replace the Indian Act with a new law for First Nations?

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for the abolition of the Indian Act during a late-October first ministers' meeting in Ottawa, holding up his own status card to make the point. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is open to moving beyond the Act, though a federal review will not necessarily lead to its abolition.

Why it matters

The Indian Act governs the relationship between Canada and First Nations and lets the federal government define who holds Indigenous status. Kinew's call revives a long-running debate that began with the 1969 White Paper, which Indigenous leaders rejected.

The Indian Act was adopted in 1876 and is about 150 years old, while a 1920 amendment made residential school attendance compulsory for Indigenous children. Whether a federal review will lead to replacement or abolition has not been determined.

The players

Wab Kinew

Premier of Manitoba and an advocate for Indigenous rights who has pressed for reform of federal Indigenous policy.

Mark Carney

Prime Minister of Canada, who said he is open to moving beyond the Indian Act through a federal review.

The details

At a late-October meeting of first ministers and Indigenous leaders in Ottawa, Kinew held up his own status card to argue the Act is obsolete. Carney has said a federal review will not necessarily end in abolition of the law.

1876: The Indian Act is adopted.
1920: An amendment makes residential school attendance compulsory for Indigenous children.
1969: Jean Chretien introduces The White Paper, which Indigenous leaders rejected.
Late October 2026: Kinew calls for abolition at the Ottawa first ministers' meeting.

Historical Context

The debate traces back to the 1969 White Paper, which proposed giving provinces responsibility for Indigenous affairs and was rejected by Indigenous leaders in their Red Paper response. Kinew's call and Carney's openness to reform return to that unresolved question of how federal Indigenous policy should be structured.

The outcome of a federal review could change how status is defined and how Indigenous communities across Canada interact with federal government programs. Any shift away from the Indian Act would affect the legal framework governing treaty and status rights for First Nations people.

The takeaway

Debates over the Indian Act reflect how long-standing federal law continues to shape Indigenous identity and rights in Canada. Readers following the issue can track how the federal review progresses, since its outcome will determine whether the Act is reformed or replaced.